after taking our 272 through a decent storm, i realized that i need a deeper keel and that the wing-keel is appealing in some cases, but when the weather is rough, with bigger waves and strong wind, i need more boat in the water. I like O'Day and was thinking of going to either 28 or 30. I am starting my homework and search for the next step-up. I am finding some reviews on 28, but very little on 30s. For those who know these boats, any recommendations? Thanks!
Thinking of moving from 272 to 28 or 30..?
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I spent months researching these 2 boats many hours each day. Both are good boats and some great buys are available. To my eye, the 28 has the more pleasing appearance, but the 30/31 has more room, storage, bigger engine, and is quicker. A review of the 30 is available from Practical Sailor & the 28 has a nice review in Good Old Boat (Jan/Feb 2009)
I made spreadsheets comparing every dimension, PHRF ratings, weight / sail area ratios, comps, and read between the lines of the owner reviews of each boat on this site. I also compared them to similar size boats from other manufacturers. The O'day 34 was also in the running for me. I finally settled on the O'day 31 (the 30 with stepped transom.)
I bought the boat, added complete new bottom job, dripless shaft seal, new stainless steel shaft. Boat runs great, sails well, is solid, and does not have a particularly dated appearance.
I have put great deal of time into this, so if you have specific questions, let me know.
Also, check sailboatdata.com
I made spreadsheets comparing every dimension, PHRF ratings, weight / sail area ratios, comps, and read between the lines of the owner reviews of each boat on this site. I also compared them to similar size boats from other manufacturers. The O'day 34 was also in the running for me. I finally settled on the O'day 31 (the 30 with stepped transom.)
I bought the boat, added complete new bottom job, dripless shaft seal, new stainless steel shaft. Boat runs great, sails well, is solid, and does not have a particularly dated appearance.
I have put great deal of time into this, so if you have specific questions, let me know.
Also, check sailboatdata.com
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TLW, you have mentioned other manufacturers, Catalina 30 is also on my very short list.. any thoughts, other than every 10th 30 footer in the water is a Catalina 30? Will start to look in earnest next season. For now, we are enjoying our 272, and will try to stay away from big waves.
Steps, I actually began my search looking specifically for a Catalina 30. The C 30 has a couple strong advantages, but also some detracting elements. I will try to reply in detail later tonight.
Hey Steps - a year ago I was looking for a Catalina 30 and saw a great looking O'day 34 berthed next to it at the same price. Realizing that one could buy more boat for the same money, I began the research. As a sailboat dealer, I was always aware of O'day, but never paid much attention to them. Now, checking them out, I was impressed by construction details that allowed O'days to age very gracefully. They have a pleasant appearance and classic lines that keep them from looking dated today - unless your taste runs toward contemporary European influences. (mine does not)
Since I often single hand, I finally gravitated to the O'day 31 as I am retired, with two hip replacements, and thought the mainsail size of the 31 was enough to be hauling up alone.
The 31, of course, is the O'day 30 with the addition of a swim platform molded into the transom - a nice feature not available on the C-30 till the mark III, I believe. I, personally, did not want a C-30 older than late '88 because I preferred the more modern windows and the improved keel stub construction that eliminated the potentiality of the infamous Catalina smile.
The Catalina 30 does have a bigger engine, and many express disappointment in the smaller engine on the O'day. Mine is a SAILBOAT, and I have not yet experienced any limitations in the Universal 18 at 16 HP. Although the engine compartment on the O'day is roomy and opens up easily, the engine placement on the C-30 (essentially amidships) is a plus.
PHRF numbers (mean national rating) indicate the O'day 31 faster than the Catalina 30 by 15 seconds per mile. Take that for what it's worth. Just a rough way of assessing performance.
Both boats are exactly the same length. The Catalina is 1 inch wider at beam max. Both have same draft in fin keel configuration. C-30 displacement is 10,200 lbs with 4200 in keel. O'day 31 is 10,100 lbs with 3800 in keel. (I'm doing this from memory, so could err)
The C-30 also has great lines that don't look particularly dated today. I have friends sailing each of these boats, and have no negative opinions of either one.
You mentioned the O'day 28 as a possibility, also. I see this boat all the time and think, at first, that it is a 30. They are a great choice because they are available at bargain prices - a whole lot of boat for the money.
Good luck shopping - start early!
Since I often single hand, I finally gravitated to the O'day 31 as I am retired, with two hip replacements, and thought the mainsail size of the 31 was enough to be hauling up alone.
The 31, of course, is the O'day 30 with the addition of a swim platform molded into the transom - a nice feature not available on the C-30 till the mark III, I believe. I, personally, did not want a C-30 older than late '88 because I preferred the more modern windows and the improved keel stub construction that eliminated the potentiality of the infamous Catalina smile.
The Catalina 30 does have a bigger engine, and many express disappointment in the smaller engine on the O'day. Mine is a SAILBOAT, and I have not yet experienced any limitations in the Universal 18 at 16 HP. Although the engine compartment on the O'day is roomy and opens up easily, the engine placement on the C-30 (essentially amidships) is a plus.
PHRF numbers (mean national rating) indicate the O'day 31 faster than the Catalina 30 by 15 seconds per mile. Take that for what it's worth. Just a rough way of assessing performance.
Both boats are exactly the same length. The Catalina is 1 inch wider at beam max. Both have same draft in fin keel configuration. C-30 displacement is 10,200 lbs with 4200 in keel. O'day 31 is 10,100 lbs with 3800 in keel. (I'm doing this from memory, so could err)
The C-30 also has great lines that don't look particularly dated today. I have friends sailing each of these boats, and have no negative opinions of either one.
You mentioned the O'day 28 as a possibility, also. I see this boat all the time and think, at first, that it is a 30. They are a great choice because they are available at bargain prices - a whole lot of boat for the money.
Good luck shopping - start early!
In your post your primary concern was rough weather handling capabilities. I loved our O'Day 25. When we decided to move up in size my primary concern was having a blue water boat capable of extended cruising. I did a lot of research and came up with a list of boats that have great offshore reputations. The O'Day 31 did not have the reputation when I was looking. I am sure there are many considerations that go into that, rigging, hull shape, rudder design, etc. The O'Day 31 is several thousand lbs lighter than our Pearson 323(32ft).
One thing that is sure, the O'Day is a very beefy and well built hull. I am not sure the the rigging is beefy, I have read of people changing it.
We have been caught in three white knuckle storms. One was 50 miles off shore. The Pearson was solid in 8 to 10 ft waves and the wind blowing 30+ knots. My wife not quite as solid.
When we were shopping I had made a meticulous list of what I wanted in a cruising boat. The thing that decided the boat was not on the list. After my wife saw the interior of the Pearson 323, it became her passion to locate one before I found a different boat on my list.
Good luck with your search. I read many discussions about blue water boats when I was looking. I also found this site a good source of reading reviews to find the characteristics of a offshore boat I would want. Many of the boats have many build items similar.
http://bluewaterboats.org/
One thing that is sure, the O'Day is a very beefy and well built hull. I am not sure the the rigging is beefy, I have read of people changing it.
We have been caught in three white knuckle storms. One was 50 miles off shore. The Pearson was solid in 8 to 10 ft waves and the wind blowing 30+ knots. My wife not quite as solid.
When we were shopping I had made a meticulous list of what I wanted in a cruising boat. The thing that decided the boat was not on the list. After my wife saw the interior of the Pearson 323, it became her passion to locate one before I found a different boat on my list.
Good luck with your search. I read many discussions about blue water boats when I was looking. I also found this site a good source of reading reviews to find the characteristics of a offshore boat I would want. Many of the boats have many build items similar.
http://bluewaterboats.org/
I may have misread Steps post but I wasn't of the opinion that he was looking for a "blue water " boat. my mistake maybe ? none the less IMHO the pearson 323 is no more a "blue water " boat than the o'day 31. I wouldn't want to be in blue water in either of them...just sayin
I'm not going to get into an argumentative comparison of boats. I used to tell customers that there really were NO bad sailboats. In truth, I suppose, there are a very few that make me raise my eyebrows, but all seem to have a place in someone's heart. If, in leaving your boat, you are compelled to look back over your shoulder just one more time to see her sitting there in all her glory - that boat is surely for you.
Steps was asking for specific data I had accumulated and my interpretation, which was, of course, subjective and mostly in reference to aesthetics.
I always grin a little when someone on this site has asked for an opinion on a particular boat or two, and someone else immediately jumps in and says "Oh forget that, you should get a *** 47!" And then I look over at the new poster's info, and of course he has a ***47. It just proves we all love our boats, and would probably love another one just as much if it were ours.
When I bought my O'day 31, the previous owner said,"she's pretty tender." I mostly kept quiet, but thought "Hmmm - that's contrary to almost every review I have read." Just check out the reviews on this site alone. People seem to be pretty comfortable with "30 kt winds and 5' seas."
Interestingly the Pearson 323 is VERY MUCH like the O'day 31. I will attach spreadsheet here if I can figure out that process. Where they differ slightly, I think Steps would give the edge to the O'day - greater beam for form stability, greater draft for stability and righting moment, 38% ballast ratio vs. 35, diesel fuel on board rather than gasoline. Obviously there are many other factors which could substantiate this "edge" OR negate it completely. Particularly WL beam which we don't know.
Both are "headsail oriented" boats with smallish high aspect ratio mainsails. The J and E measurements are almost identical. In fact, the asymmetrical Spinnaker on my O'day 31 was actually made for a Pearson 323. THe SA/DSPL ratio for the 2 boats is nearly identical.
For what it's worth, the mean national PHRF ratings for the two boats show the O'day faster by 9 seconds per mile.
All of this means NOTHING, really. See paragraph 1. Digest the numbers, if you're a "numbers guy" then again, read paragraph 1.
Steps was asking for specific data I had accumulated and my interpretation, which was, of course, subjective and mostly in reference to aesthetics.
I always grin a little when someone on this site has asked for an opinion on a particular boat or two, and someone else immediately jumps in and says "Oh forget that, you should get a *** 47!" And then I look over at the new poster's info, and of course he has a ***47. It just proves we all love our boats, and would probably love another one just as much if it were ours.
When I bought my O'day 31, the previous owner said,"she's pretty tender." I mostly kept quiet, but thought "Hmmm - that's contrary to almost every review I have read." Just check out the reviews on this site alone. People seem to be pretty comfortable with "30 kt winds and 5' seas."
Interestingly the Pearson 323 is VERY MUCH like the O'day 31. I will attach spreadsheet here if I can figure out that process. Where they differ slightly, I think Steps would give the edge to the O'day - greater beam for form stability, greater draft for stability and righting moment, 38% ballast ratio vs. 35, diesel fuel on board rather than gasoline. Obviously there are many other factors which could substantiate this "edge" OR negate it completely. Particularly WL beam which we don't know.
Both are "headsail oriented" boats with smallish high aspect ratio mainsails. The J and E measurements are almost identical. In fact, the asymmetrical Spinnaker on my O'day 31 was actually made for a Pearson 323. THe SA/DSPL ratio for the 2 boats is nearly identical.
For what it's worth, the mean national PHRF ratings for the two boats show the O'day faster by 9 seconds per mile.
All of this means NOTHING, really. See paragraph 1. Digest the numbers, if you're a "numbers guy" then again, read paragraph 1.
Trying again to get attachment.
Guess I have no clue how to do this, although I have attached photos, etc. in the past. Here's a paste - columns not aligned well
O'day 31 Pearson 323
DESIGN YEAR 1985 1976
LOA 30.08 32.35
LWL 25.88 27.5
BEAM MAX 10.75 10.25
DRAFT 5.25 4.4
DISPLACEMENT 10,100.00 12,800.00
BALLAST 3,800.00 4500
BAL/DSPL 37.63% 35.15%
DSPL/LENGTH 260.12 274.77
SAIL AREA (sq. ft.) 436 477
SA/DSPL 14.98 23 14 27
I 39.67 41
J 13.25 13.83
P 33.75 36
E 10.25 10.75
MAIN AREA 173 194
FORE-TRIANGLE AREA 263 284
PHRF 171 180
FUEL Diesel Gasoline
Guess I have no clue how to do this, although I have attached photos, etc. in the past. Here's a paste - columns not aligned well
O'day 31 Pearson 323
DESIGN YEAR 1985 1976
LOA 30.08 32.35
LWL 25.88 27.5
BEAM MAX 10.75 10.25
DRAFT 5.25 4.4
DISPLACEMENT 10,100.00 12,800.00
BALLAST 3,800.00 4500
BAL/DSPL 37.63% 35.15%
DSPL/LENGTH 260.12 274.77
SAIL AREA (sq. ft.) 436 477
SA/DSPL 14.98 23 14 27
I 39.67 41
J 13.25 13.83
P 33.75 36
E 10.25 10.75
MAIN AREA 173 194
FORE-TRIANGLE AREA 263 284
PHRF 171 180
FUEL Diesel Gasoline
I just recently purchased a 1983 Catalina 30, atomic 4 engine.
I had a Cat 27 prior and loved that boat too, but desired more living space. Ihave sailed the Oday 34, Hunter28,30,34, Morgans and others. BY FAR the Catalina 30 provided the most living space without sacrificing performance. I bought the boat early in July and my wife, twin 6y/o and I lived and cruised on her for almost 2 months. She has good storage space nice berths and the best galley of any boat I have seen of her size. On several occasions we had her out in 30kt winds and 6ft seas. She handled them very well. The big test was in the Manitou Passage of northern MI. We had 35kt winds from sw and seas up to 9foot. I was delighted at how well she handled.
w/Reefed Jib we recorded 9.2kts coming down a wave. average speed over 5 miles 7.3kts
So far, I have had no problems with the Atomic 4. I can motor at about 7kts, but would like more torque. I will swap the 2 bladed prop for a 3 bladed this fall. This should help.
Changes I will make for next season:
3bladed prop rather than 2bladed
New jib sheets
I might remove one of the sinks(port side) and install an access hatch for food storage.
we never use that sink anyway.
Best
Robert
I had a Cat 27 prior and loved that boat too, but desired more living space. Ihave sailed the Oday 34, Hunter28,30,34, Morgans and others. BY FAR the Catalina 30 provided the most living space without sacrificing performance. I bought the boat early in July and my wife, twin 6y/o and I lived and cruised on her for almost 2 months. She has good storage space nice berths and the best galley of any boat I have seen of her size. On several occasions we had her out in 30kt winds and 6ft seas. She handled them very well. The big test was in the Manitou Passage of northern MI. We had 35kt winds from sw and seas up to 9foot. I was delighted at how well she handled.
w/Reefed Jib we recorded 9.2kts coming down a wave. average speed over 5 miles 7.3kts
So far, I have had no problems with the Atomic 4. I can motor at about 7kts, but would like more torque. I will swap the 2 bladed prop for a 3 bladed this fall. This should help.
Changes I will make for next season:
3bladed prop rather than 2bladed
New jib sheets
I might remove one of the sinks(port side) and install an access hatch for food storage.
we never use that sink anyway.
Best
Robert
I think the early model 323 had atomic 4 engines. Most have diesels. Ours has a Volvo md11c 24 hp. There is a O'Day 31 three slips from us. The rigging and chain plates are very light. I am really not looking to knock one boat over another.
I provided a link to boats that have very good reviews for open water passages. Do with it what you will.
I provided a link to boats that have very good reviews for open water passages. Do with it what you will.
Recess, better take a look inside that O'day 31 before making a blanket statement based on casual observation. The chainplate system is tied into rods extending to the beefiest part of the hull in way of the keel and mast-step. A SUPERIOR system (with little stress on deck and no dependence on bulkhead integrity) and much praised by reviewers and boat builders. The rigging itself is 1/4' - overkill for a 30' boat, and particularly one with a keel-stepped mast and tie-rod supports.
Interestingly, it was Pearson who bought the O'day company and lightened the rigging as on the O'day (Pearson) 29.
Interestingly, it was Pearson who bought the O'day company and lightened the rigging as on the O'day (Pearson) 29.
I have found that hunting for the right boat is like picking a comfortable shoe. What fits you might not fit me. Decide what you need/want in a boat and go from there. For example, i needed living spaces inno more that a 30 foot boat. The Oday is a very well built boat, but it lacked some of the elements I required. I would be very careful with the 80s vintage Hunters. They are known for having many defects. Later Hunters are very nice boats, but expensive. The Cat 36 in on my five year plan. 
I did want to clear this up because it is misleading. Pearson had been bought up just as O'Day had before any of this cost cutting took place for either brand. People who know the history would agree that once Bill Shaw left Pearson, it is not at all the same brand. He did buy back the brand at the end and produced the J boats though. Many sailboat companies operated on a fine line of staying in the black and did not survive the belt tightening of the eighties. Their brand names were sold though.
soooo....where were we?.....oh yeah....so Steps, as I was saying...if you were to decide that the o'day 31 were the boat for you, in my quite biased opinion, I doubt that you could find a nicer one than mine to buy. and just think you could sail it home in a few hours instead of trucking it home.
wow, a lot of GREAT responses!!! Thanks for all of the feedback! So, we have just sold our 272, and this "2 happiest days for a sailor" nonsense is just WRONG. It must have been rumored by those who should not have owned boats in the first place. We are very sad to see her go.... we are now officially on the market for a 30 footer. We are mostly comfort-based cruisers, who spend weekends and a few multi-day trips in LI sound, and would love to try a few rivers in CT. Many advantages of a wing keel are outweighed by a lot of tenderness, hard weather helm, and scary times in big wind and waves. Our 272 managed through them with us on-board, but it was not a pleasant experience.
Based on my continuous research, i have added Sabre and S2 9.2 to my list. As for gas versus diesel, i would pick diesel any time. We are also not planning to power a sailboat a lot, but there are times when you just need a bit more juice to get in or out of places where you do not want to be, and with LI currents in the flowing rivers, one needs adequate power to manage the boat. Did anyone find reviews on O'Day 30 or 31? I am still looking for those reviews that are beyond.."I love my boat" responses.
Thanks!
Based on my continuous research, i have added Sabre and S2 9.2 to my list. As for gas versus diesel, i would pick diesel any time. We are also not planning to power a sailboat a lot, but there are times when you just need a bit more juice to get in or out of places where you do not want to be, and with LI currents in the flowing rivers, one needs adequate power to manage the boat. Did anyone find reviews on O'Day 30 or 31? I am still looking for those reviews that are beyond.."I love my boat" responses.
Thanks!
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